Tap to Wake settings are specific to your phone’s manufacturer and model—Android does not have one universal menu path. On supported devices, look in Settings for a screen-wake gesture; it may require one tap, two taps, or lifting the phone. The gesture wakes the screen but does not necessarily unlock the phone.
How do I turn on Tap to Wake on Android?
Use the instructions for your phone brand below. The labels and available gestures can vary by model and software version, so a path that applies to one phone may not appear on another.
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Samsung Galaxy
- Open Settings.
- Tap Advanced features, then Motions and gestures.
- Turn on Double tap to turn on screen.
Samsung lists the wake-screen and screen-off gestures separately. Its Double tap to turn off screen option turns the screen off when you double-tap an empty area on the Home or Lock screen. Samsung says available gestures may vary by model or software version. Samsung Support: Motions and gestures
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- Open Settings.
- Tap Gestures.
- Adjust the Wake display options.
In Motorola’s Android 13 guide, Wake display options include waking the screen with a tap or by moving the phone. Motorola also documents a separate double-tap gesture that goes to the lock screen; that is not the same as the single-tap Wake display behavior. Motorola Android 13 guide
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OnePlus 7
- Open Settings.
- Go to Screen off gestures.
- Enable Double tap to wake.
This path comes from the OnePlus 7 User Manual and is specific to that model; it should not be assumed to match other OnePlus phones. OnePlus 7 User Manual
What if the setting is not where these instructions say?
Search your phone’s Settings for tap to wake, wake display, motions and gestures, or screen off gestures. These are search terms to help locate a setting, not names that every phone necessarily uses. If you still cannot find it, check the manufacturer’s instructions for your exact model and software version.
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The cited Google Pixel gesture page does not establish a Tap to Wake menu path. That alone does not show whether a particular Pixel supports the feature; check instructions for the exact model and software version. Google Pixel Help: Use gestures on your Pixel phone
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Does tapping the screen unlock the phone?
Do not assume so. The cited Samsung setting turns on the screen, and the OnePlus 7 manual describes waking the device. Waking the display and unlocking the phone are separate outcomes; follow your normal lock-screen authentication steps if the phone remains locked.
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- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
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- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
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